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If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

First season - what to expect?

12 replies

Overrunwithlego · 29/12/2022 13:34

We have a 10.5 Year month old lab just having her first season. We will have her spayed afterwards, but as novice dog owners have no idea what to expect. First noticed a single drop of blood on Christmas Day but she has kept herself very clean. Seems to be more today, but she tore of the nappy she had on, so she is confined to non carpeted areas.

Seems her normal self and we have been taking her out for walks on the lead - is that OK? We have a vets appointment but not until next week so any advice in the meantime is appreciated!

OP posts:
Original poster
Overrunwithlego · 29/12/2022 13:34

Obviously 10.5 month not year…

OP posts:
brawhen · 29/12/2022 16:57

I am interested in this. I have a 9 month collie cross and I keep wondering if she's going in to season and then not... She keeps herself v clean and has lots of fluffy black hair across her rear end and I'm worried that I won't know when it happens!

The online advice says helpful things like 'your dog may be more clingy or may be less clingy'...

tocahairchop · 29/12/2022 18:09

Our dog has had one season and there was very little mess...she kept herself clean and we put blankets on sofas etc. didn't bother with nappies. She had that for about a week and then at the end of that week her hormones peaked and she was a bit hyper, crying to be let out during the night one or two nights and just sat in the garden, waiting for a mate I suspect! Kept her on lead while she was in season, once we noticed swelling was down (week 3/4) we either kept her on lead or let her off only if no dogs around. Male dogs were fairly interested in her but not to the point of them running from afar to get to her...only sniffing if she was passing etc. Just be careful and give lots of hugs during this uncertain time for her. We didn't go to the vet, don't think there's any need to?

tocahairchop · 29/12/2022 18:10

Also you'll notice she is weeing loads more...several times each walk 'marking'

Eighteighteen · 29/12/2022 18:37

My vet told me that my dog would experience the hormones as if pregnant for the amount of time it would take to have pups (60 days or something), so to expect her to be nervy, jumpy and a bit on edge for all of that time.
She was ok but was certainly more edgy/guardy than usual for a good few weeks.

ilovesushi · 30/12/2022 12:49

I seem to remember our lab was quite clingy and lower energy than usual. She wanted to sit on the sofa with us and have lots of cuddles. We have hardwood floors and tiles in the kitchen so the blood wasn't too much of an issue. There wasn't loads and was easy to clean up.

Palmfrond · 30/12/2022 12:58

I’ve always had bitches, never spayed them before they were fully grown. Re seasons & blood; people make a big fuss about nothing IMO, but then we are, as a rule, a family of grimy scruff bags so your mileage may vary. Bitches who have had a litter or two or very large dogs might be a different prosposition.
The water/pee proof sheets that you put on kids’ beds come in handy if you have dogs though, ie when they’re in season or when they are old & incontinent, so hang on to those!

Palmfrond · 30/12/2022 13:03

Eighteighteen · 29/12/2022 18:37

My vet told me that my dog would experience the hormones as if pregnant for the amount of time it would take to have pups (60 days or something), so to expect her to be nervy, jumpy and a bit on edge for all of that time.
She was ok but was certainly more edgy/guardy than usual for a good few weeks.

Vets push hard for neutering ASAP though. Possibly beneficial for bitches but quite depressing with dogs.
Also expect, as pps have said, clinginess, agitation and weight loss. Lasts a few weeks.

Jagley · 30/12/2022 13:08

I have a King Charles Cav so a bit smaller but still. She's defiantly more clingy in season, 'nests' with blankets, keeps herself clean but we use nappies at night. Lots more weeing -she'll want to go out in the night when she usually doesn't. Have had the odd time where she's weed in a pile of clothes but that's not uncommon in bitches in season. I'd say hers last about 3 weeks overall.

Original poster
Overrunwithlego · 31/12/2022 18:15

Thanks all for your advice. So far going in although she is missing being off lead I think.

Trip to the vets is more to ask questions about spaying really.

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Messyhair321 · 31/12/2022 19:15

Just to say that the blood lasts for several days BUT when this stops after about 10-14th day, this is when the dog is most fertile & definitely needs to stay away from other un- neutered males. This is when they most ready for it!

Sometimes after spaying they get a bit miserable. We have two rescues which were bred & bred then bred some more. They are both sweet girls but sad lives before us.
They both became a bit agro after they got spayed, absolutely fine now but for a few weeks they were quite snappy & neither of them are like that at all usually. They've never been anywhere near aggressive aside from this time.
I think this was owing to the fact that they'd had lots of puppies & therefore hormones would have been more pronounced? But interesting that they were both like this ( they aren't related & we adopted at different times).

Original poster
Overrunwithlego · 01/01/2023 07:23

Thank you Messy.

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